Jessica Wallis: Many people may know you from your blog, Tendus Under A Palm Tree, where you feature your “Keep Calm and Tendu On” merchandise. The “Keep Calm” phrase has become popular lately. How did you acquire the rights to it?

Rebecca King: One of the reasons I chose the “Keep Calm” phrase and logo to work with is because it surprisingly has no copyright, so it was easy to personalize for my blog. “Keep Calm” has definitely resurfaced in recent years, so I was excited to use it.

JW: In a previous interview,you stated that you take Tendus Under A Palm Tree very seriously and that you consider it part of your job. Is TENDUSstill fun, or is it more of a responsibility?

RK: I really grew TENDUS this year by incorporating some new goals for the brand. I don’t see writing as a responsibility as I really enjoy it, but I just wish I had more time to do it. I truly enjoy promoting my art form through TENDUS. What’s great is it can be whatever I want it to be, on my own time.

I have really been missing writing recently, as I’ve been busy planning my wedding. Once I have more time on my hands, I hope to do even more with it.

I recently conducted an Instagram contest on my blog where participants entered to win a “Keep Calm And Tendu On” bag. I look forward to doing more contests of the same nature in the future with new merchandise and new prizes.

JW: You and I share an affinity for George Balanchine. How did you develop an interest in Mr. B’s choreography?

RK: I grew up in California and frequently attended performances at San Francisco Ballet. The company has many Balanchine works in its repertoire that I would never miss seeing onstage. Additionally, my ballet teachers taught in the Balanchine style, so I was exposed to it often and was taught its importance.

Now, after dancing in many of his ballet, I realize that audiences will never know Balanchine ballets like dancers do. Dancers who have the great opportunity to dance Balanchine ballets, come to know the intricacies of the choreography and each dimension of his brilliance. When I dance a Balanchine ballet, I feel as if I know Mr. B, just through knowing his choreography.

Miami City Ballet has the privilege of having a repertoire filled with his works. We often have Balanchine’s dancers come set these ballets and coach us to give us a real idea of exactly what he wanted. I feel that this keeps his ballets alive and constantly evolving.

JW: Miami City Ballet is now under the direction of former New York City Ballet dancer Lourdes Lopez. Can you

speak about what it is like working with Ms. Lopez?

RK: Edward Villella definitely created a family with Miami City Ballet. Lourdes understands and embraces that family atmosphere, and we continue on in that fashion. Being able to be a part of the original MCB as well as this new chapter for the company, is a privilege.

JW: Have you learned anything from Ms. Lopez about George Balanchine?

RK: Lourdes once told us that she stepped into an elevator one evening with Mr. B. She thought that maybe he was going to start asking her about her dancing or something related to the company, but instead he asked her what she was going to have for dinner that night. She thought this really showed that he wanted to know his dancers as people and that he cared about them more than just as dancers on the stage. I think Lourdes has that same approach as an artistic director.

[…] from PBS diving into the social dance that inspired Balanchine; followed up by a video interview by Rebecca King, exploring the challenges of getting through that demanding work…Sunday = Square […]